Boot-tree.



No. 743,322. PATENTED Nov. s, 1903. w. F. PACKARD.

BOOT'TRBE.

APLPLIGATION FILED DEO. 30, 1902.

UNITED STATES Patented November 3, 1908.

"PATENT CFFICE.

WILLIAM F. PACKARD, OF BROCKTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, OF THREE-FOURTHS TO AMOS S. HAYDEN, LORING G. LITTLEFIELD, AND FRANK BARTLETT, OF AVON,

MASSACHUSETTS.

Boor-TREE.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 743,322, dated November 3, 1903. Application led December 30, v1902. Serial No. 137,111. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM F. PACKARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brockton, in the county of Plymouth, State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Boot-Trees, of which the following is a specification.

My invention consists of a boot-tree having novel means for connecting the foot with the leg thereof, admitting of the adjustment of said foot to different angles, also the adaptability of easilyvremoving the foot and applying one of a di'erent size, and a novel division of the leg, so as to spread the same, as will be hereinafter set forth.

Figure l represents a side elevation, with a portion broken away, of a boot-tree embodyingmy invention. Fig. 2 represents a longitudinal section on line Fig. l. Fig. 3 represents a transverse section on liney y, Fig. l. Fig. 4c represents a side view of a portion at a right angle to Fig. 1.

foot. Fig. 6 represents a section of a modiication. A

Similar letters of reference indicate corre'- sponding parts in the figures.

Referring to the drawings, A designates the" leg, and B designates the foot, of a boot-tree.

The leg is longitudinally divided, forming` tion, by which provision the sections are heldf together in closed position. O n the inner or rear end of the foot B is the segmental face J, and on the contiguous portion of the leg A is the segmental recess K, which latter receives said face .I and permits the foot to turn on the leg in curvilinear direction, and thus vary its angle, as shown in full and dottedlines in Fig. 1.

In order to connect the foot with the leg, I

Fig. 5V represents a plan view of a portion of thel employ the wedge-shaped or tapering tongue L, one side of which has a shoulder M, said tongue being secured to the inner or rear end of the foot.

Connected with the wall of one of the legsections at the segmental recess K is the plate N, which is segmental, so as to conform to said recess, and projects laterally toward the other section. Behind the inner end of said plate is the recess P, which is formed in the inner side of the relative leg-section. In the opposite leg-section is the recess Q, the outexl terminal of which is at the inner side of the plate N, as most plainly shown in Figs. 3 and 4. It will now be seen that when the pointed end of the tongue L is presented to the recess Q and said tongue is pressed inwardly the adjacent portions of the leg-sea tions are spread or forced apart. As soon as the shoulder M on said tongue clears the back of the edge of the plate N the leg-sections spring together and force said shoulder laterally into engagement with said back of the plate N, the plate thus acting as a keeper, the sections under the pressure of the spring F retaining the tongue in position, whereby the foot B is reliably connected with the leg, while the resultant joint between the parts permits the foot` to ride on the leg in its curvilinear motions for the angular adjustment of the same, as has been stated.

In Fig. 6 I show a lip N as an integral por- 'tion of the legsection D in lieu of the plate or keeper N in the other iigures, the latter being preferably formed of metal.

The inner or rear end of the foot B is clad with a wear and rub plate R for protecting said end in its movements on the leg, the plate N of the latter also serving a similar purpose, as is evident.

When the leg-sections are separated, the

tongue may be disconnected from the plate N and the foot accordingly removed from the leg, after which another foot may be applied and secured in a manner similarly to that above set forth.

It will be noticed that the leg is divided in a plane extending from the front to the back thereof. Consequently when a larger size of foot is applied the tongue on the latter being also of correspondingly-increased thickness Will spread the sections of the leg, so as to conform to the Width of the foot in its increased size.

While I have used the Word boot, it Will be understood that the device is more particularlyV applicable to the treeing and ironing of shoes.

Various changes may be made in the details of construction Without departing from the general spirit of my invention, and I do not therefore desire to be limited in each case to the same.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a boot-tree, a leg formed of separate sections, a spring on lthe interior of one of the sections and an eye on the interior of the opposite section, said spring being attached at one end to its section and having its other end passed freely -through said eye, and a movably-mounted foot and means on the foot to spread said leg-sections.

2. In a boot-tree, a leg, a foot, said leg being formed of separable sections and an attaching device for said foot and leg comprising a tongue on said foot and a keeper on one section of the leg, said tongue being adapted to spread the leg-sections and interlock with said keeper.

3. In a boot-tree, a leg formed of separable sections, formed With a'recess, a keeper on one of the leg-sections adjacent said recess and a foot having its rear face adapted toenter and play in said recess and a tongue on said face adapted to pass between the leg-sections and spread the same and engage said keeper.

4. In a boot-tree, a foot, a leg adapted to carry the same, and a fastening device for said members, said leg being formed of separable sections, a spring for closing said sections, and a keeper-plate on one of said sections, the opposite section having a recess which is located at the side of said plate and is adapted to receive said fastening device for interlocking purposes.

5. In a boot-tree, a leg, a foot mounted for angular movement on the same and a fastening member on said leg, the leg being in sections and said foot being movably mounted to spread the leg-sections and provided With a tongue Which is of tapering shape and provided With a shoulder for engagement with said member.

6. In a boot-tree, a leg formed of separable sections, a spring connected with said sections to close the same, a keeper on one of said sections, said sections having recesses adjacent to said keeper, a foot, a tongue on the inner end of said foot, said tongue being adapted to enter the recesses of the leg, and constructed to engage the adjacent Wall of the recess, to spread apart the sections thereof and engage with said keeper.

7. In a boot-tree, a leg divided in a plane extending from the front to the back of the leg, the resultant sections being adapted to be spread sidewise, said leg being provided at the foot end with a segmental recess, and a foot having a member movable in said recess and constructed to spread the leg-sections.

VILLIAM F. PACKARD.

Witnesses:

JOHN A. IVIEDERSHEIM, WM. CANER WIEDERSHEIM. 

